✦ Self Publishing

How to Use Amazon KDP A+ Content (A Simple Guide for Book Creators)

Learn how to use Amazon KDP A+ Content to increase trust and conversions for children’s books. A clear, beginner-friendly guide for self-published authors.

How to Use Amazon KDP A+ Content (A Simple Guide for Book Creators)
Advertisement
📋 Table of Contents

Publishing your book on Amazon KDP is a big milestone.

But once your book is live, a new challenge appears:

How do you convince parents or readers to actually click “Buy Now”?

This is where Amazon KDP A+ Content comes in.

Many first-time authors either ignore A+ Content completely or rush into it without a plan. Both are mistakes. When used properly, A+ Content can quietly improve trust, conversions, and book sales—especially for children’s books.

At Kidillus, we work with authors every day, and this guide breaks A+ Content down in plain, no-nonsense language.


What Is Amazon KDP A+ Content?

A+ Content is an enhanced section on your Amazon book page that appears below the description, usually under a heading like “From the Publisher.”

It allows you to add:

  • Visual layouts
  • Images and graphics
  • Structured text blocks
  • Comparison sections (for series or related books)

Think of it as a mini landing page inside Amazon.

The goal is simple:

👉 Help shoppers understand your book faster and feel confident buying it.

Good A+ Content doesn’t shout.

It quietly answers doubts.


Is A+ Content Free on KDP?

Yes. Completely free.

Earlier, this feature was only available to large publishers and cost hundreds of dollars per book. Today, any author with a book published or on pre-order via KDP can use it.

You do not need:


  • KDP Select
  • Amazon Brand Registry
  • A publisher account

Just a published KDP book.



Why A+ Content Matters (Especially for Children’s Books)

Children don’t buy books. Parents do.

Parents want to know:

  • Is this book age-appropriate?
  • What kind of illustrations does it have?
  • What values or lessons does it teach?
  • Does it look professional?

A+ Content lets you answer these questions visually and clearly—without stuffing everything into the description.

For children’s books, A+ Content is especially powerful because:

  • Visuals matter more than text
  • Trust matters more than hype

Clarity beats clever marketing tricks

Before You Start: Don’t Skip This Step

The biggest mistake authors make is opening KDP and starting to build A+ Content immediately.

Don’t do that.

A+ Content works best when it’s done in two phases:

  1. Planning (thinking)
  2. Execution (building)

Skipping planning almost always leads to rejection, frustration, or weak results.

Phase 1: Planning Your A+ Content (The Smart Way)

Step 1: Study Other Books Like Yours

Search Amazon for books in your niche:

  • Children’s picture books
  • Bedtime stories
  • Educational kids books
  • Fiction or nonfiction (your category)

Scroll down and study their A+ Content:

  • What images are they using?
  • Are they focusing on benefits or features?
  • How much text do they use?

You’re not copying—you’re learning what Amazon already approves.

Step 2: Decide What You Want to Say

A+ Content is not a repeat of your book description.

Ask yourself:

  • What makes this book special?
  • What problem does it solve for parents or readers?
  • What feeling should the buyer have after reading this page?

For kids’ books, strong angles include:

  • Emotional learning
  • Reading level clarity
  • Art style consistency
  • Story themes (kindness, confidence, friendship)

Step 3: Match Ideas to A+ Modules

Amazon provides 17 different A+ modules (layouts).

Examples:

  • Image + text
  • Text-only
  • Image comparison
  • Series overview

Plan which idea fits which module before opening the builder.

Even rough notes on paper are enough.

Phase 2: Creating A+ Content Inside KDP

Once you have a plan, execution becomes easy.

Step 1: Open the A+ Content Builder

In your KDP dashboard:

  • Go to Marketing
  • Choose A+ Content
  • Click Create A+ Content

You can start with or without an ASIN.

Step 2: Build Slowly and Carefully

Each module shows:

  • Image size requirements
  • Character limits
  • Text placement rules

Follow them exactly. Amazon is strict here.

Tip from Kidillus:

👉 Create images specifically for A+ Content, not reused social media graphics.

Step 3: Save Drafts Often

You don’t need to finish everything in one sitting.

A+ Content works best when you:

  • Build
  • Review
  • Improve
  • Proofread

Many professionals complete it over 2–3 sessions.

Important Rules You Must Follow (Very Important)

Amazon rejects A+ Content more often than people expect.

Here are the biggest rules to remember:

❌ What You Cannot Include

  • Prices, discounts, or promotions
  • Words like “Buy Now,” “Free,” “Best,” “On Sale”
  • Customer reviews or testimonials
  • References to other books or authors
  • Kindle Unlimited mentions
  • Time-based phrases like “New,” “Latest,” “This Year”

✅ What You Can Include

  • Clear benefits
  • Educational value
  • Reading age guidance
  • Illustrator or author information
  • Book themes and tone

For children’s books, keep everything calm, helpful, and parent-focused.

Approval Process: What to Expect

A+ Content goes through two checks:

  1. Automated scan
  2. Human review (if needed)

Approval usually takes:

  • 2–8 business days

Tip:

Submit early and fix flagged issues before final submission.



Final Advice from Kidillus

A+ Content is not a sales trick.

It’s a trust-building tool.

If your A+ Content:

  • Matches your book honestly
  • Looks professional
  • Helps parents decide

Then Amazon rewards you naturally—with better conversions over time.

No hacks. No shortcuts. Just clarity.


Official reference: Amazon KDP A+ Content guidelines View on Amazon KDP



Sponsored
A
Aadil Khan
Children's Book Illustrator & KDP Expert
15+ years of illustration experience. Helping indie authors bring their stories to life with professional illustrations and KDP publishing guidance. Founder of Kidillus.